(Escondido, CA) The Park University Gilbert baseball team dropped the first game of a scheduled double header losing the game one 8-6. Game two was halted at 10 p.m. due to the lights at Escondido High School having to be turned off at this times. The Buccaneers hold a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth when play resumes.
This loss in game one puts a lot of pressure on the Buccaneers to win the last two games in the series to make the decision of the Cal Pac Baseball Panel a tough one as two more wins will give both Park and Simpson the same number of wins. The Buccaneers won the season series with Simpson and own wins against the top three teams in the conference.
A poor first inning was costly as the Buccaneers fell in game one 8-6.
For the second consecutive game, Park Gilbert starter Joseph Chavira could not get out of the first inning, surrendering four runs which put the Bucs in a hole they could not extricate themselves from for the second week in a row. Last week against Benedictine Mesa, the Bucs fell behind but were able to make a comeback to get the win.
The Buccaneers had opportunities to score in this game but could not come up with enough hits with runners on base. The Bucs left 14 runners on base and were 1-14 (.071) with runners in scoring position.
The Buccaneer bullpen held the Firebird bats in check in innings 2-7 only allowing one more run to cross. Meanwhile the Bucs slowly cut in to the lead with solo runs in the second and fifth innings, before cutting the deficit to one in the seventh on a two-run homer by Connor Hommes to cut the lead to 5-4.
But three runs in the bottom of the eight extended the USK lead and rendered the two runs scored by the Buccaneers in the ninth moot.
At the plate Austin Chouinard, back in the lineup as he nurses an injured hand went 2-4 with a run scored and Chris Amador also had two hits and two RBI.
Kyle Poapst threw 4 1/3 innings allowing only one hit and one run striking out seven to keep the Buccaneers in the game. Chavira took the loss and falls to 0-3 on the season.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 3, Saint Katherine 1 (Halted top 5)
This game will be resumed starting at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon as the two teams will complete this game followed by the final game of the series.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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